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Period: to
French Revolution
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meeting of the Estates-General
the Second Estate forced Louis to call a meeting of the Estates-General which was an assembly of representatives from all three estates to approve this new tax. The meeting, the first in 175 years, was held on May 5, 1789, at Versailles. When the Third Estate formed themselves into a National Assembly, it signaled the outbreak of the French Revolution. This meeting is an important part of the revolution because the governement is starting to force Louis into fixing their debt issues -
The Royal family taken captive
About 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal family was staying. The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. The Assembly, still in Versailles, declares, in the spirit of constitutional monarchy, its inseparability from the king. This time in the war represents the people of France turning on the royal family, at last. -
Robespierre Assumes Control
One Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre, slowly gained power. Robespierre and his supporters set out to build a “republic of virtue” by wiping out every trace of France’s past. They changed vital parts to France's past like its religion-based churches, and even the calender. They changed the names and dates of the months of the new calender, while no longer recognizing Sunday to drive home their dislike for religions.
This time is important because this is the rise of a very powerful person -
King Louis XVI is beheaded for treason
The National Convention changed King Louis's status from King to common citizen. He was then tried for treason and then convicted guilty. He was sentenced to death for Jan 21st, 1793 by the guillotine, which basically is a beheading machine. This is important clearly because of the beheading of the former King of France -
The Reign of Terror
For the next year, Robespierre governed France virtually as a dictator. His task was to protect the Revolution from enemies. Under Robespierre’s leadership, the committee often tried and hung people for no reason. Robespierre justified his use of terror by suggesting that it enabled French citizens loyal. Approximately 20-40 thousand people died. This is important because it shows why he is taken out of office and killed at later dates. -
Coup d’État
By 1799, the Directory had lost control of its people. When Napoleon returned from Egypt he as encouraged to seize power. Napoleon took action in early November. His troops surrounded the national legislature and drove out most of its members. In its place, they established a group of three consuls, one of whom was Napoleon. He took the title of first consul and assumed the powers of a dictator. This is imprtant because it is the beginning of a long and powerful seize of power. -
Napoleon Crowned as Emperor
On December 2, 1804, Napoleon dressed in robes and walked down the long aisle of Notre Dame Cathedral. The new emperor took the crown from the pope and placed it on his own head and with the gesture he implied that he was more powerful than the Church. This shows Napoleon's own confidence in himself as absolute ruler and his country's confidence in him; they love him. -
The Peninsular War
For six years, peasant Spanish fighters struck at French armies in Spain. These fighters were not easily defeated in open battle. They worked in small groups that ambushed French troops and then fled into hiding. The British added to the French troubles by sending troops to aid the Spanish. Napoleon lost about 300,000 men. This is important because it is signifying the crumpling nation that is France and Napoleon's bad decisions. -
Napoleon Suffers Defeat
After Napoleon threw together a very untrained, and ill ready troop of soldiers for yet another battle his generals refused. They advised Napoleon to give up and admit defeat to Prussia and Russia. He then did, while also giving up his thrown and was then exiled to the Isle of Elba. This was supposed to be the last the people of France were to see of Napoleon. This shows the final and turn on Napoleon by his country when they exile him to a different island. They no longer see him as a leader. -
Congress of Vienna
Occurs during the winter of 1814-1815. This was formed by the big European powers to decide what to do with the problems left over from the French Revolution. This objective resulted in the redrawing of the continent's political map, establishing boundaries. One of the many steps that were taken was the former Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic were united to form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. These countries put aside their differences to make Europe more powerful and to restore France
